Ticket-printing machine



F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

npmcmolmzo IAY I5, 1916.

I5 SHEETSSMEET I.

Jnuwflct FRANCESCO SKERL Patented June 28, 1921.

U FQS KE ncxzr Pmum' CHINE. arrucmou' riun' unis. 1915. 1,382,685, Patented June 28, 1921. j G 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W nger F. SKEHL. TICKET PRINTINQMACHINE. APPUCATIUN FILED MAY 15 1916. 1,382,685. Patented June 28, 1921.

15 5HEET$SHEET 3- F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE,

APPLICATION HLED MAY l5. l9|6.

Patented June 28, 1921.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 5- F SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5. 1916.

1,382,685. PatentedJune 28, 1921.

I5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

F|G.B.

F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) MAY5.19I6.

l5 SHEETS-SHEET 1- Elm uonfoz FRANCEsBUSKERL FIGJI FIG F. SKEBL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm my 15. 1916.

Patented June 28, 1921.

I5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 3 van I'oz mg \\m SKERL w M yFRAwcisco I I OII QIjQ F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. I916.

1,382,685. Patented June 28,1921.

FIG I 6 I5 SHiETS-SHEU 9- '3 r0 5 k l] UL 1| L 75 7 FRANCESCO SKERL F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IIlAY l5. I9l5- luucnl'oz FRA F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man MAY I5. 1916 Patented June 28, 1921.

I5 SHEITS-SHEET1L Flu ucufoz HFRANCESCOSKERL F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE APPLICATION HLED MAY 15. 1916.

Patented June 28, 1921.

15 ShLETS-SHEET I2.

F. SKEHL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLlCATION FILED MAY 15. 1915.

[ KERL W 3/? M 5 a I "J CIH'OT'HQ11\ Patented June 28, 1921.

. Cw ommU MO o0 301w w w 3 wNwE mwdE R \Q r NR QNA 'F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED A715. I916.

Patented June 28, 1921.

iililii I naw/M01 FRANCESCOSKERL y mm F. SKERL.

TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAY l5. I916.

Patented June 28, 1921.

k .2 we

om wE FRANCESCO SKERL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TICKET-PRINTIN G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 28 1921 Application'filed May 15, 1916. Serial No. 97,584.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCESCO SKERL, a citizen of Austria, residing at Da ton, in the county of Montgomery and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ticket-Printing Machines, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. V

This invention relates to ticket issuing and accounting machines and has particular reference to improvements in machines of the kind which print the prices on the tickets as they are issued and add the amounts to a previous total.

The broad object of the invention is to provide a machine of the kind mentioned which is small and compact, but which will, at the same time be satisfactory for use in places where the prices charged for the tickets are subject to change. This object is attained by providing mechanism whereby the same printing and totalizer actuat ing devices may readily be set to print and add different prices. This overcomes one objection to machines known in the art which are constructed to print and add fixed prices and which can only be made to take care of different prices b partially reconstructing them, or by employing enough printing and adding sections to make it possible to issue tickets of different values by operating different sections of the machine. A machine constructed according to the latter plan is necessarily too large for use in many places and is also too expensive to interest a large proportion of the people who have need of such a machine.

In the present instance the various novel features comprised by the invention are shown embodied in a machine for use in a theater where three classes of tickets are issued and where the prices may be diflerent for different periods of the day or are changed from day to day according to the attractions offered. The invention is, however, capable of use either as a whole or in its various parts in machines for other lines of business and in machines to issue tickets of either a larger or smaller number of classes. In other words, neither the line of business nor the number of classes of tickets is an essential feature of the inven- The illustrative machine is, as is common with such machines, arranged to print and lssue each class of tickets from a separate ticket strip. Ordinarily such machines have entirely separate feeding and printing devices for each strip, inconnection with mechan sm whereby the vdevice s for any desired strip may be caused to operate. One of the more sfpecific objects of this invention is to simpli mechanism as much as possib le by providing two invariably moved strip feeding cylinders common to all of the strips instead of independent cylinders for each strip. Cooperating with these cylinders are key controlled rollers whereby the desired strip may be held in feeding engagement with the cylinders. The construction is further simplified by'having the two cylinders carry all of the type for printing both the variable and invariable matter appearing, on the fronts and backs of the tickets, the printing impressions being taken from the type because of pressure applied by the rollers just mentioned. i

The variable matterreferred to includes the consecutive numbers .and dates printed on the backs of the tickets and the prices printed on their fronts. The type for printing the prices are carried by type wheels adjustably, mounted in one of the invariably moved feedingand printing cylinders. These type wheels might be so arranged as to be turned from one position to another by the fingers or by means of some instrument inserted to engage the wheels and force them from one position to another, but in the present instance means are provided whereby they maybe rotated to different positions by operating manipulative devices on the front of the machine. The idea of providing such price printing type carriers is believed to be novel in the art and the provision of such type carriers and such maniplative means for setting them constitute two of the objects of the invention.

In addition to being able to change the machine to print different prices, means are provided whereby the totalizing mechanism may be set to add the new prices. In the present embodiment one set of manipulative devices controls both the price type carriers and the actuating mechanism. These manipulative devices are normally ineffective, but by manually operating certain connec y, the ticket printing and issuing tions they are rendered effective and may then be usted to set the type carriers and actuators to add and print the new amounts.

'When the connections are restored to original condition so as to render the manipulative devices ineffective the connections will retain the type carriers and actuators in their new positions. Other objects of the invention were to 'providefthe various devices and connections justw mentioned.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists 'incerta n novel fea tures of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth infla pended :claims, and a preferred form o'f'em'bodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification.

'Of said drawiifgst Figure' llis a front elevation of the complete machine with the doors in the front thereof opened to show the ticket strips and the manipulative devices for setting the price printing type carriers and totalizer actuators.

Fig, 2 is a top plan view showing the location of the various. features in the machine. In this figl'lie theoutside casing and two of the keys are broken away, :and the key frames for one bank omitted so as to show clearly mechanism actuated directly by the keys.

Fi 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 2) looking in the direction of the ar rows.

V Fig. '3 is a detail of one of the cams for operating one of the ticket classification counters.

Fig. 4 is a detail of mechanism controlled by one of the banks of keys and also shows some of the connections whereby the manipulative devices for setting the type carriers and totalizer actuators are prepared for operation.

Fig. 5 shows some of the key controlled mechanism for determining the extent oF movement of the driving mechanism and thereby both the number of tickets to be issued and the number of additions to be madev on the totalizer.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a cam forming 'part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows in front elevation certain features of the driving mechanism and controlling devices therefor, also a number of the features of the price changing and accounting mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a left elevation partially in section of the lower .part of the mechanism and shows particularly the driving motor and some of the connections whereby its movement is 'controlled and transniilted'to the rest of the mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a front view of one of the ticket crating pitinan.

strips and devices immediately associated therewith, and also shows some of the drir ing mechanism and controlling connections 'for the motor.

Fig. 9 is a left side view of the cash totalizer and thecounter for retaining a record of the total humber of tickets issued.

Fig.10 shows some of the mechanism for effecting transfers from lower 'to higher order elements of the cash totalizer and devices for connecting and disconnecting the totalizer and the operating mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a, front wiewof the operating segment shown in Fig. 10 and shows the manner in which it is connected to its op- This figure also shows some of the details ofthe construction of the totalizer and total ticket counter supporting frame. V

;Fig. 12 is a detail of a cam for operating .alining and locking devices for both the driving mechanism andsome of the key operated selecting mechanism.

Fig. 13 shows in detail some of the driving mechanism and some of the price changingmechanism.

Figs. 14 and 15 show respectively the lowest and next to lowest value actuators for the totalizer and also show the locking disk and actuator connecting cam attached to each actuator.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the manipulative devices and other mechanism immediately associated therewith for setting the type carriers and actuators. In this figure one of the indicators and some ofthe other parts have been broken .away for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 17 is a front view of the assembled ticket printing and issuing mechanism and some of its operating connections.

Fig. 18 is a group of details showing the manner in which some of the gears and tuhes'shown in Fig. 17 are constructed and assembled.

Fig. 19 is a section taken on the line 1919 (Fig. 17) looking in the direction of the arrows, with some of the parts broken away to exposeothers to view.

Fig. 20 is a detail of one of the cams for swinging the ticket feeding rollers into on gagcment with the common feeding and printing cylinders when a strip is to be printed and fed.

Fig. 21 is a section taken inside of the right machine frame and printer frame looking to the left.

Fig. 22 is a section taken on the line 22-22 (Fig. 28) with the shell of the cylinder and some of the other parts omitted.

Figs. 23 and 24 show respectively the front and back of a. ticket of one class, While Figs. 25 and 26 each show the front of a ticket of a different class.

Fig. 27 is a detail of the price printing fty'pe barriers ,and otherfmechanism con taihed in one 'of the feeding and printing cylinders'commonto all of the strips. In figure ,the outside shell or casing of 5the.eylinder has l een omitted.

5 .i'Fi'gIIQS iS" a "section" taken on the: line lookin'g'in the direction of the arrqw; and shows" particularly devices for .ali nll g the, Qtype carriers and locking against'movement after they have been ZOfingl and printing cylinders common to all of thestripsl 1 I n order 'to expose thefparts clearly to view 'the"outsidecasing onshell .of

the cylindenhasbeen omitted and others of a the, parts [out awayto show theconnection between the yarious type wheels and the manipulative devices for turning them. I

- Fig. 3l is a section through the cylinder on the line 31 31 '(Fig. and shows r I I to issue threei classes of tickets. The tie 'et strips from which'the tiokets are issued may L 95 some 'of the operating and aliningf nech- 30 anism' ifor 'the consecutive ninnbering de- ,vicesh a 7 Fig. 32 is 'alse'ction taken through the cylinder on the line 32 -32"(Fig. 30) looking fin the direction of the arrows. r 35 Eig. 33"' is a' section taken on the line 33 33F(Fig. 30) looking in the direction of the arrows. For the sake of clearness the end; plate-and hub of the cylinder has been iomiaedb In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown embodied in a machine of a type which is now well known on the market and which is fully shown and described in United StatesLetters Patent No. 1,302,600, issued May 6, 1919, to Francesco Skerl. This machine is only used however, because itlseem s to lend itself best to illustrating yand explainiiig the invention and it is not the'desire' tobe limited to this one embodiment of the idea. The invention is one which can be applied in various modifications and withvalmost equal facility to a number of other machines known in the art. 7 The machine shown in the Skerl patent 5 mentioned ,is so constructed that its driving mechanism may be given a variable movement, the extent of movement depending upon the number .of tickets to be issued, and as each ticket is issued the value thereof is added on a totalizer.

for controlling the extent of movement and for determining the amountsto be added on the .totalizer.

The machine shown and described herein i has the variably operable driving mechat e zer-Jj for'each 'classof tickets and these actuators sitions with reference a to the driving "nis'm so as to vary their 'eflective lengths.

"course, immaterial, but for the sake of con- .venience they are generally referred to herein as childrens, adult and box tickets and ;the samenames will be used as far as possi- Keys are employed H nection with the totalizer actuators.

"nism just mentioned and has a keyboard containing three rows or banks of keys.

These keys control the extent of movement of the drivingmechanismand also determinethe ticket stri s from which the tickets" areto be issued. o'keys are provided for deterinini'n 'the amountsto be added on the nstead, an actuator provided may be adjusted and retalined in various 9-"75 mec a- Thisadjustment'is made by operating imani ulative devices at the front of the machine. Then-when the machine is operated to,issue tickets of ,a certain class, as each ticket is issued the amount determined by the setting of the-corresponding actuator will be entered on. the totalizer'. In other words, each actuator may be adjusted inde- ,pe'ndently oftheothers to determine the characteristic amount that it isto' add and thisamount will then be entered; on the .totaliaer each and evjerytime the actuator is"operate'd untilrtheactuator is again ad-" 'just'ed to al difierent positionat the time a change th e' price of the tickets takes place. jThe mach neis, in this instance, arran ed be of different colors so that the value'of a ticket may readily be-secnby the ticket taker. The purpose of the .classes is, of

ble in referring to the mechanism associated 'with each of the ticket strips.

' As eachticket 's i -ed theprice is print-- ed twice on its face, once on the main part of the ticket and once on a stub which may be detached from the ticket. These stubs may he used for ,various purposes, such as in voting contests, or they may simply be retaine by the purchaser of the ticket to show that he is entitled to certain privileges, The prices, as previously stated,are printed on the tickets ,from type wheels which arerotatably mounted in one of the invariably moved strip feeding and printing cylinders common to the strips. ,Each of the typewheelsis so located in the cylinder that only the type to print one amount can projec't'far enough to make an impression when the cylinder is rotated. The type wheelsare turned from one position to another to position different type at the printing point by operating the same manipulative devices as were mentioned above in con- Normally the type wheels are all looked against rotation in the cylinder and are also normally disconnected from the manipulative devices. When a change in the price of ioo 1.may be operated to turn the type carriers and actuators. These latter manipulative devices ,are in the form of knurled disks having apart of their peripheries extending through the vfronttpart of the machine casing. Movement of e'se disks when they are turned is transmitted through a train of gears .tothe actuators and type carriers in such a way-that the actuators and type carriers are simultaneously. adjusted to their new positions, that is, thepositions at which they will 'adda'nd .print the new prices. Indicators locate d at the front of the machine and yisihle through the ,top of the casing are 'sogeared to the disks as to show at all times the finoun'ts that the machine is prepared to add and print.

The foregoing is thought to give a good, general idea of the more important features of construction. The others need not .he mentioned specifically here, but all of them which have any direct hearin upon the present invention are -'fort in detail later .on.

' Driving wwchanism.

The machine shown in the drawings is driven by .an electric motor indicated .gener ally by the numeral 40 ,(Fig. A shaft 41 jonrnaled'at one end in a bracket 42 and at the other'in an arm 43 (Fig. 8) formed on the machine frame 44 carries a clutch and circuit controlling mechanism designated generally by the numeral 45 whereby a driving connection may be established between the shaft 41 and the armature shaft 46 ofLthe motor. As an incident to establishing such connection a pawl 47 is operated to depress the switch contact arm 48 to close the circuit through the motor. The motor and this clutch and circuit closing mechanism are all fully shown and described in United States Letters Patent 1,144,418 issued June 29, 1915 to C. F. Kettering and W. A. Chryst. The exact construction need not, therefore, be explained fully here, but reference may be had to the patent in question if more complete information is desired.

The shaft 41 has fastened thereto a pinion 50 (Figs. 7 and 8 meshing with the teeth of a gear 51 rotate 1y mounted on a stud 52 carried by the machine frame 44. The gear 51 serves through idle gears 53 and 54 to drive a gear'GO. attached to the right end of a shaft-G1. As shown in Fig. 6, this shaft is journaled at one end in the left hand side frame 62 and at the otherin an intermediate frame (53. Fastened on the left end of the shaft 61 is a gear 64 (Fi s. 3, '6, 12 and 16) meshing with a gear 65 astened to a shaft 70. The gear-.64 also Jmeshes with ,a gear71 whichis loosely mounted upon a shaft 72 and meshes with a gear 73 fastenedrtoa shaft 74. Rigid with .the gear 73 -(Fig.1.?) is a partial gear 75 having a lockingporti'dn 76 normally in engagement with a locking portion 77 formed on a ,partialgeaifTB fastoned to a shaft 79. The gearing just mentioned is so proportioned that ,.for eyei'y two rotationsgiven to the shaft 51 by the motor, the shafts 61, 70,74 and 79 will ach make a complete rotation, althou'hhecause of the construction of thegears 5 and "7 8 the shaft 7-9 will complete -its movement ahead of the others. The purposefoifthis will appear later. At each rotation Said shafts a ticket will'be issue'dfaridthe price thereof entered on a tota lize'r, the n'umher of tickets issued and the number of additions depending upon the number of times that the shafts are permitted to turn.

The mechanism for controilling 'the'operation of the electric motor and there'by the driving mechanism is similar "to the mechanism shown in 'the Skerl Patent No. 1,302,600. This mechanism comprises an arm 82 (Figs. 7 and8). w'hichfnormallyfdoacts with the clutch and circuit controllii g device 45 in such a way that operation of the motor and rotation of the shaft 41 is prevented. When one of the keys isfopera'ted the arm 82 will be swung awa y, from the clutch device 45 anywhere from photo five steps according to the key pressed. 1 frees the drivingmechanism-and starts 'the motor and at each rotation of the 'd riring shaft the arm .is returned a step toward normal so that after 'the number of tickets required by the operated key have 'been issued the arm 82 will be fully restored to the normal position in which it is shown, thereby operating the mechanism 45 .to 'disconnect the shaft 41 from the armature shaft 46 and break the circuit throughthe motor. The mechanism controlling the movement of the arm 82 will be described more or less in detail later.

In addition to its connections to the motor 40 the driving shaft 70 is provided with connections whereby it may be turned by an operating handle 84 (Fig 2) at the front of the machine. The connections last mentioned comprise a. bevel gear 85 (Figs. 6 and 21) fastened to the shaft 70 and meshing with a bevel .gear 86 fastened to a short shaft 87 journalcd in .a plate 89 which is fastened by cars 90 to the intermediate frame63 (Fig. 6) and the right side frame 91. Attached to the shaft 87 is a 'gear '92 meshing with a gear '93 having a one-way driving connection not shown) with the opcratin handle 84. All of the gears intermediatet e operating handle 84 and the shaft 70 are so pro portioned that the shaft will be given a complete rotation at each turn of the handle.

Keyboard.

As previously stated, the machine is in the present instance arranged to issue three classes of tickets, childrens, adult and box tickets. Each out these classes is represented on a keyboard by a row of keys designated respectively by the 'numerals 100, 101 and 102 (Figs; 1, 2 and6). The keys of each row are numbered from one to five thereby indicating the number of operations of the driving mechanism and consequently the number of tickets issued when a key is depressedl "For 'example, if three childrens tielrets are desired, it is only necessary to pre% the3key in the bank or 'row designated by thenumeral 100. y

All of the keys are mounted in suitable frames in such a way as to be limited to endwise movement. and are depressible against pressed key in and all of the other keys out.

Atthe left hand side of each row' of keys isa plate 105 (Figs. 2]and 3) having inclined slots 106 cotiperating with pins 107 extending crosswise through the keys. The plate 105 for the childrens bank 100 is loosel supported at its rear end by a three arme element 108 attached to a rock shaft 109. The plates 105'for the adult and box banks are supported at their rear ends by single arms which are also fastened to the rock shaft 109, so it is clear that the three plates 105 always have a unitary movement. Fastened to the arm 110 of the element 108 forcthe childrens bank 100 is one end of a spring 111, the' other end of which is fastened to a pin 112 fastened to the frame 62 Thespring 111 is constantly under tension so that shoulders 113 on the plates 105 are normally held in contact with the key pins 107, thereby limiting the rearward movement of the plates. It is apparent that when any key is depressed its pins will cooperate with the associated slot 106 to draw allof the plates 105 forward against the *tension of the spring 111, thereby bringing the portions 114 of'the plates underthe key pins 10" so as to lock out the undepressed keys in all of the banks. This movement of the plates 105 releases the operating mechanism,also the mechanism for locking a depressed key in until the operating mechanism has been operated a number of times corresponding to the numeral on the key.

At their forward ends the plates 105are supported by arms 115 loosely mounted on a shaft 116. Rigid with arm 115 for the childrens keys 100 is an arm 117 (Figs 3, 5 and 6) to the forward end of which At its pivoted the upper end of a, link 118.

lower end the link 118*,is provided j'with a slot 119 into which projects a tached to the rearwardly extendlng aim of an element 121. A downwardly exte' 'iding 575 arm of the element 121, which is loosely '5 Y mounted on a cross rod 122, is providedwith a fiat sided stud 123 normally in en} gagement with the uppermost one of a series of teeth formed 1n the*forward end of a lever 124. The lever 124 is fastened to a;

rock shaft 125 suitabl mounted on the rearwardly extehdingarm of the element 121 by a stud concentric with mounted in th"e" frames 62 and 63. A ever 126 is'loosely the pin 120. This lever 126 near its upper end has two shoulders 1'27 and 128, -tliej upper one of which is normallyjin "engage-1" ment with a flatsided stud 129 projecting laterally from the link 118. The'lever 126' is normally heldin this position by a s ring f 132 which is connected atitslforwar en to the lower end of the element -121and"at its rearward end to the lower end of the lever 126. It is apparent that when a key and link 118 will be moved downward,

thereby causing the element 121 to be'rock ed counter clockwise (Figs. ,3 and5) to carry the stud 123 out of engagement with the uppermost tooth on the lever 124. When the stud 123 is moved out of engagement in this manner the shaft125 is rocked counter clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5 by a spring 133 (Figs. 3 and 6) which is coiled about the shaft 125 and is bentat one end about a stud 134: attached to the left side frame 62 the other end being bent around a laterallyprojecting lug 135 on an arm 136 rigidly mounted on the shaft 125; The

ul'pose of this arm will appear later. *astened to the shaft 125 is also a stepped plate 138 (Figs. 3, 4 andc6) which is normally so positioned that an arresting tooth 139 attached to a bell crank 1.40 is one step of movement above the uppermost step 141 If the 1 key is dearresting tooth 139 in position to engage I whichever one of the steps 143 corresponds to the number of tickets desired.

hen the shaft 125 is.rocked by the spring 133 at the time thestud 123 is disen-' '95 H is depressed and the plates 105 moved for-"i ward by the pin 107 in the'key' the arm 117 

